Mariska Hargitay Hosts Emmys After 15 Years as Widow’s Bay Wins Eight

The 2026, 78th Primetime Emmy Awards were held in Los Angeles and featured Mariska Hargitay as the first woman to host the ceremony in 15 years. Apple TV+’s horror-comedy “Widow’s Bay” led the night with 14 awards after receiving eight Creative Arts Emmys, while “The Pitt” repeated as best drama. Jean Smart won outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for “Hacks,” her fifth consecutive win for the role and eighth acting Emmy overall, and Matthew Rhys won lead actor in a limited series for “The Beast in Me.” The ceremony included reunions, an In Memoriam performance by Noah Kahan and a tribute to Dolly Parton, with Reba McEntire performing “Appalachian Memories” using jewelry from Parton’s archive. The event also drew attention to snubs including “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” fashion on the red carpet and HBO Max’s post-show celebration of its 21 wins from 122 nominations.